This spring Diane and I took the Viking Grand European Tour, sailing the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers while taking time to explore in more detail all the wonderful sites along the way. The 16 day trip started in Amsterdam and ended in Budapest. At each stop along the way there where included and optional tours available. Some were within walking distance of where the boat docked, others required a bus ride, usually no longer than 30 minutes. Highlights include Cologne Cathedral, Bruhl Palaces, castles along the Rhine, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Wurzburg Residenz, Melk Abbey, Hofburg and Schonbrunn Palaces in Vienna, and ending with three days in Budapest.

Budapest, the "Paris of the East," was the highlight of the tour for me with all the historic buildings lit in golden lights at night. We even spent an afternoon enjoying the Thermal Baths. It is also only 51Km from Puspokszilagy, the birthplace of my maternal grandfather. We booked three extra days in Budapest with the sole purpose of using part of that time to investigate further my ancestry. Unfortunately, several days earlier I contracted a respiratory ailment that had infected about 40% of the boat, so I wasn't in much of a mind to pour over musty records. Our return trip resulted in getting stranded in Frankfurt Airport for a day after our flight to DC was canceled. All in all it was a memorable trip I would recommend to others.

Between the two of us we took over 66,000 pictures and videos. Diane and I have been working for the past two weekends trying to whittle that number down to a manageable number to incorporate into a video of our trip. We will probably be working on that project this time next year.

Chuck Nichols

We did that cruise in 2014 with a couple we had been friends with since our first Army assignment in the 10th Engineers, 3 ID. We have traveled with Viking seven times; enjoyed every trip. The Grand European was special, because in Wurzburg we got to spend most of our day with our first landlord and his family with whom we have been friends since 1965. We got to Germany via the SS United States in mid-December 1965. On 23 December we moved into the ground floor of the Wanner's home in Dettelbach am Main about 11 miles from Wurzburg (they lived on the second floor, likely because they got heat from us downstairs). You could see the house from your Viking ship, although on our cruise I think we passed there at night. The first photo is of Ernst, Regina, Marlene and I in September 2014. The second photo is of the Weihnachtsbaum Ernst had waiting for us, enabling us to celebrate our first Christmas as a married couple two days after moving in. The third is of Marlene and I in front of the Leaning Tower of Kitzingen in '66. We've change a bit, but our memories warm us in the twilight of our journey together.

Agree totally with you about Budapest. Beautiful city. We've been lucky enough to visit there twice. And 66,000 photos...wow, my 1000 pale in comparison. Would love to see your video when complete.

Sorry about your illness and the difficulties in getting back. We have found post-Covid air travel seems much more difficult now. We did the Viking Elegant Elbe river cruise last July. We went with my son and his wife. Got to Berlin and all four of our checked bags plus Marlene's checked transport chair did not make it...for five days! We thought they got stranded in Frankfurt, but no, they were still in Newark even though were at the airport for the 5 1/2 hours delay from our flight from Wilmington. The fact that the departure gate changed multiple times during our delay no doubt did not help.

S & D,
Rick

From Jerry Merges

Joe McChristian joined Dave and Marcella Gnau and Peg and me for lunch at the Evans Prairie CC.

Great reconnecting these Florida boys and telling tall tales of days long ago.

We covered the days in the first regiment, Army sports, the upcoming Army beat down of FAU, etc.

Joe entertained us with stories of his family and their Florida adventures from the 1800's.

Delightful day followed with a famous Florida afternoon booming thunderstorm!

All the best,
J

Peg and Jerry Merges, Marcella and Dave Gnau, Joe McChristian

All,

We had a great trip last week to New England to see many relatives and friends. We stopped in Plymouth July 3d to see the Mayflower and Plymouth Rock. Kay Dermody met us at the really nice East Bay Grill there for lunch.

Skip OD in hot Vegas

Attached are two photos from our visit with Bob Radcliffe and Faye at their home in Ocean Isle Beach, NC on July 18. One shows Bob with the framed lyrics of the Army fight song, which Dan Christman presented while noting that nobody epitomized the message in the song more accurately than Bob. The second photo includes Bob Harter, Dan, George Bell, and me on Bob’s porch. Sandy Hallenback was with us for most of our visit, but had to leave before the photo was taken.

It was a special time with a special person. We were encouraged by the care Bob is being given, blessed by his resolve and good humor, entertained by the recounting of memorable moments, and reminded of the endearing bond we enjoy as classmates.

Fredric Laughlin
flaughlinaz@mac.com
Cell: 301-520-8594

From Skip O'Donnell

We had a nice breakfast with Dave Siry and my USMA 65 classmate Tom Kovach.

Dave does USMA graduate and other military taped interviews for the USMA History Department. He was in town this weekend doing several interviews.

Gene Parker shared a trip experience with his family. In Gene's words:

I took 9 family members to Alaska last week (I have been before but none of them have). Our previous trips have been to Hawaii and the Grand Canyon, Zion, Las Vegas, Phoenix) My wife has burned out on travel and I have learned that as long as I pay, my family members are very good at arranging their busy schedules to go with me! :)

We departed CLT but were delayed for 2 days in Detroit (unfortunately we were on Delta). However, we found the Henry Ford Museum and GM World Headquarters on the river to be great places to visit.

The first picture shows us at the Denali Visitor's Center

Once in Anchorage the highlight of the trip was a boat trip out of Seward where we saw a pod of humpback whales feeding.

It was quite a spectacle. The whales circle a school of feeder fish, underwater and then simultaneously blow huge bubbles which scare the fish into clumping together near the surface. The whales then emerge all at once with their mouths open feasting on the prey.

The seagulls flock to the site to get the leftovers. We saw this 5-6 times with the seagulls always locating the next spot.

Bob Frank's report on John Howell's services at the West Point Cemetery

The family, Classmates and friends of John Howell gathered at the West Point Cemetery to honor him on 31 July. Father Matt Pawlikowski conducted the funeral service in the Old Cadet Chapel. After the service, including a fitting homily that hi-lighted John’s unique achievements as a member of ’65 and as a officer in the Army, the funeral party moved outside for the rendering of military honors and the burial of John’s cremains.

The flag under which John served honors that service with a touch from the corner of its folded configuration. It contains some of the shell casings created by the rifle salute that was rendered. The flag was then presented to John’s daughter, Kristen Marks, as the reminder of his country’s appreciation for John’s years of service.

A reception followed at the Thayer Hotel. Patrick and Kristen made comments about their dad, as well as their appreciation for those attending the funeral. In his absence, Clair Gill’s remarks were read to the gathering.

Also in attendance, although not pictured were Dave Siry Honorary ’65, Carol Maimone, Mary Ellen Smith and Mary Frank. The AOG representative was Debbie Edelen ’92 (Patrick’s Classmate and daughter of David Vann).

Brandon Marks is John’s grandson. Hal Jenkins ‘93 and Patrick Howell are childhood friends from when their families lived side by side in quarters ("Gray Ghost”) at West Point. John was a second dad to Hal, just as our Hal Jenkins was a second dad to Patrick.

John Howell’s Class ring will be included in the January 2025 Ring Melt and become part of Brandon’s Class of 2026 ring, a physical and symbolic link to his grandfather.

Saturday July 27th was Skip O'Donnell's 83rd birthday. A time to celebrate! And we did at Fleming's Steakhouse in Las Vegas. Note that the two '65ers are wearing identical West Point aloha shirts (we did not coordinate this in advance). The aloha shirts were commissioned by the West Point Society of Hawaii and were sold at the tailgate party for an Army vs. Hawaii football game some years ago. Marilyn and I attended the game, and thus I purchased aloha shirts for the '65 contingent in the Las Vegas area at the time - Skip, Jim Holmes, and me.

Reporting during the hottest month of July ever recorded in the Las Vegas valley!

Tom Kovachs

We had a delightful 3 hour dinner in Missouri City (far west suburb of Houston) last night (Thursday) with Fred & Carol Grates; Freddy has not changed a bit in the 63 years I have known this highly decorated former dust-off pilot turned hospital administrator. Carol was hobbled a bit due to a bum hip accident.

My Cathy didn’t remember meeting Fred, until he met us at the door of the restaurant with his trademark big bear hug.

It was fascinating hearing his retelling of going from great Army wrestler to MSC officer branch detailed to missiles in Niagara Falls (seriously) going on a double date reluctantly during which he met a “super hot” young lady from Niagara Falls (seriously?) who was engaged to another (not for long), then a 2+ year as an ADC, then RVN, then abandoning a very promising Army career (for many of the same reasons many of us shared) to start a successful career in hospital administration.

Only bad part of the evening? The humidity at 9:30 PM in Houston as we walked out of the restaurant was OPPRESSIVE. Apparently this is normal, according to Fred, for 4-5 months during the Summer. And we have an outdoor wedding of GDaughter Kirby on Sunday one hour south of here!

Denny Coll

From Denny Coll

Hot off the presses from Denny Coll's daughter Shannon, who worked for him. Great guy, well deserved.

See also MG Robert D. Harter: Chief of Army Reserve and Command.

Congrats to Bob & Mary and the entire Harter family!

All,

Just a quick photo of John and Cheryl Longhouser after lunch with my wife Pat and I (Bob Carini) at McGuire’s Irish Pub in Destin FL on 8/31.

Bob Carini

Ray Woodruff sent this video of his grandnephewinlaw

This is sort of a hi-lite video of Julian Hurst, who is my wife, Grace Anne’s grandnephew. (He is her brother’s grandson.) The first four games are from the Regional championships. We attended three of those four games in Waco, TX.

At the Little League World Series they switched to orange uniforms and changed Julian’s number to 15. We went to the first game in the World Series in Williamsport where they played the Pennsylvania team from Newtown, PA. They beat Florida in the second game and a team from near Las Vegas in the third game, but Florida came out of the losers’ bracket and beat them in the US finals. They also lost 4-3 in the consolation game for third place against Venezuela. Julian injured his shoulder in the US Championship game and had to come out in the fourth inning. He played against Venezuela but could not pitch.

Great showing for a 12 year old kid. The whole thing was really fun for us.

As previously reported, Denny Hawker died in 2019 in Arizona. His Celebration of Life was held at the Mesa Country Club on 6 November 2019.

Denny’s inurnment at West Point was timed to occur in early 2020, but was cancelled because of Covid. Accordingly, Denny was inurned in the Mesa AZ area. However, on 1 August 2024, Denny came to take his place in the West Point columbarium. He was attended to by his widow, Diane, and her family from Massachusetts and Vermont. Also in attendance were Mary and Bob Frank, plus Dave Siry, Honorary ’65.

Reported by Bob Frank

The US Open Tennis tournament finished last Sunday without a US player winning. But, Walt Oehrlein hit the ‘jackpot’ being a guest in the President’s Suite/Chairman’s Box. There he met Lt. Gen. Najda West ‘82 & Lt. Gen. Steve Gilland ‘90/SUPT.

Gen Gilland later ‘tossed the coin’ for the Daniil Medvedev/Flavio Cobolli match @ Ashe Stadium.

We also watched Iga Swiatek play. It was a ‘moment in time’ for me as I played in the Tournament in 1966 & 67.

Go ARMY!
S&D,
Walter Oehrlein

On September 9 the Richmond area '65 group, pictured left, gathered in Williamsburg, VA for fellowship and lunch. We even had a surprise visitor, Jim Golden.

Not in this order, but you can pick them out: Jim and June Harvey, Jim Golden, Bob and Mary Frank , Roger and Trish Griffin, Jim Helberg, Dave and Darlene Hopkins, Chuck Nichols and Diane.Tip Jim Harvey far left. Dave Hopkins far right.

By Dave Hopkins

On 6 September, the Kulbacki family gathered at the West Point Cemetery to lay Walt’s cremains to rest. Cathy and her two children led the tribute, and were surrounded by Classmates and friends. Per Walt’s desires, there was no funeral service in the chapel. Rather, a graveside committal, including military honors bid our final salute to Walt.

As usual, the honor guard did a superb job in rendering the richly deserved honors. A unique twist was provided after the chaplain’s burial service and the rendering of honors. The complete alma mater was played, thanks to Terry Ryan. A recording of the West Point Alumni Glee Club’s rendition was used, after which Terry donated the recording to WPAOG for future use. This unique feature of Walt’s send-off drove home the fact of Walt’s deep feelings for West Point. In a similar way, Cathy noted that Walt (and ultimately Cathy) will lie in rest only three rows away from Cathy’s parents.

Submitted by Bob Frank

This just in from Bob Wolff.

Attended the parade where Obama was honored and then went to the Superintendent’s garden and then to the Cadet mess hall where Obama received the Thayer Award. The Cadet Choir was there to sing the Alma Mater. The next day we had an Army band at the 40th Anniversary celebration of the Jewish Chapel. We did not see any other classmates.

My bad - we did see Walt Oehrlein and Paul Kantrowich at the Thayer Hotel before the ceremony. Sorry Walt and Paul.

From Ross Wollen

I was there at the Saturday Game with Rice. Was told Bob Jones and and Tom Barron were there somewhere but did not connect with them. Did have Don Rowe's Plebe Grandson on duty guarding my Press Box seats !

All,

Bob Radcliffe’s funeral took place on Saturday, September 21st very near the home he shared with his wife Faye Hayes Radcliffe, in Ocean Isle Beach, NC.

Shown is a picture of classmate attendees with Bob’s widow, Faye. Also in attendance but not in the photo were Dan Benton, Sandy Hallenbeck and Gordy Larson. Bob will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined.

By Pat Kenny

All,

Not really a reunion, but a terrific visit to Pensacola, our home, by Ken Slutsky, and joined by his daughter Annette and husband Mike Cork. Annette and Mike reside near us, and Cheryl and I joined the family for dinner along the Pensacola Bay.

By John Longhouser